Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Chain of Custody Breaches Lead to Acquittal in Drug Sale Case
Supreme Court acquits drug suspects after police fail to justify missing DOJ and media witnesses during inventory under Section 21.
Chains Unbroken Safeguarding Rights In Drug Cases Through Evidence Integrity
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over broken chain of custody and missing Section 21 witnesses, reaffirming strict compliance.
Unlawful Arrest Invalidates Drug Possession Charges Protecting Constitutional Rights
Supreme Court acquits drug suspects over Section 21 violations, emphasizing the three-witness rule and chain of custody requirements.
Reasonable Doubt in Drug Cases: The Three-Witness Rule and Chain of Custody
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect over broken chain of custody and missing witnesses—explaining Section 21, RA 9165 requirements.
How Philippine Courts Assess Credibility and Consent in Rape Cases
A look at how the Supreme Court evaluates witness credibility, consent, and damages in rape convictions, using People v. Bugna.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Missing Witnesses Led to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect because police failed to justify the absence of required witnesses during inventory. Learn the chain of custody rules.
Broken Chain of Custody: When Drug Evidence Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect after police failed to justify missing witnesses during evidence handling, reinforcing strict chain of custody rules.
Treachery and Witness Credibility: Examining the Conviction in People v. Condino
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how treachery is established and why trial court findings on witness credibility are given high respect.
When Doubt Benefits the Accused: Integrity of Evidence in Philippine Criminal Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on reasonable doubt, witness credibility, and the prosecution's burden in election-period weapon possession cases.
Upholding a Drug Sale Conviction: Witness Credibility and Chain of Custody
In People v. Flor, the Supreme Court affirmed a drug sale conviction, showing how courts weigh witness credibility and substantial compliance with chain of custody.
Child Witness With Cerebral Palsy: Competency and the Pursuit of Justice
The Supreme Court affirms that a child with cerebral palsy can be a competent witness, provided she can perceive and communicate her perceptions.
Child Witness with Cerebral Palsy: Competency in Rape and Homicide Cases
Explore how the Supreme Court ruled that a child with cerebral palsy can be a competent witness in rape and homicide cases.
Essential Witness Rule Drug Sale Convictions Without Informant Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a drug sale conviction despite the informant-poseur buyer not testifying, clarifying when the essential witness rule applies.
Positive Identification and Circumstantial Evidence in B.P. 22 Cases: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How Philippine courts use eyewitness identification and circumstantial evidence to convict in Bouncing Checks Law cases, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Eyewitness Reliability and Positive Identification in Murder Cases
Learn how Philippine courts assess eyewitness reliability and positive identification in murder cases, and when an accused's death extinguishes criminal liability.
Burden of Proof in Murder Cases: When a Single Eyewitness Suffices
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on a single eyewitness's positive identification, explaining the burden of proof and the limits of the alibi defense.
Unreliable Eyewitness Testimony and Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court acquits an accused when eyewitness identification is unreliable, citing the frailty of human memory and suggestive procedures.
Minor Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Credibility and Its Impact on Justice
How courts assess a minor rape victim's testimony, why it can sustain a conviction, and the rules on alibi, force, and damages.
Credibility of Eyewitness Testimony in Rape Cases Despite Inconsistencies in Time
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on credible victim testimony, clarifying that exact dates need not be precise.
Admissibility of Evidence and Witness Credibility in Robbery With Homicide Cases
A look at People v. Opiniano, where the Supreme Court weighed an inadmissible confession against circumstantial evidence and witness credibility.
Reasonable Doubt and Inconsistent Witness Testimony Lead to Murder Acquittal
Explaining how material inconsistencies in an eyewitness's testimony can create reasonable doubt, leading to acquittal in murder cases.
Intellectual Disability and Witness Credibility in Philippine Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms that intellectual disability alone does not disqualify a rape victim from testifying, provided her account is coherent and consistent.
Robbery With Homicide Positive Identification Over Alibi
Supreme Court rules positive identification prevails over alibi in robbery with homicide, affirming conviction based on credible eyewitness testimony.
Positive Identification Over Alibi Upholds Conviction In Murder Case
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, ruling that positive identification by eyewitnesses outweighs the weak defense of alibi and denial.